Levar na Brincadeira: Say You Took Something as a Joke
Levar na brincadeira means to take something as a joke or not treat it too seriously. Tone and relationship still matter.
Real Life Portuguese · 4 min read · Updated October 14, 2026
The short answer
Levar na brincadeira means to take something as a joke, treat it lightly, or not become offended by it. The phrase describes how a person reacts to a remark or situation; it does not prove that the original comment was harmless.
Use levar na brincadeira for a light reaction
Conjugate levar for the person: levei na brincadeira (I took it as a joke), levou na brincadeira (he or she did), and levaram na brincadeira (they did). You can name what was taken lightly with isso or a noun phrase.
Eu levei o comentário na brincadeira.
I took the comment as a joke.
Ela levou a crítica na brincadeira e respondeu com calma.
She took the criticism lightly and answered calmly.
Você está falando sério ou está brincando?
Are you serious or are you joking?
Contrast levar na brincadeira with levar a sério
Levar a sério means to take something seriously. It is a useful contrast, but the two phrases are not commands for how someone must feel. If a remark hurt someone, respect that reaction even if another person intended a joke.
Use brincar when you mean that someone is joking or playing around. Use levar na brincadeira when you mean that the listener chose to respond lightly.
Levo meus estudos a sério, mas tento não ficar ansioso.
I take my studies seriously, but I try not to get anxious.
Não leve a brincadeira para o lado pessoal.
Don’t take the joke personally.
Ele estava brincando, mas o comentário me incomodou.
He was joking, but the comment bothered me.
Put it into practice
Use levar na brincadeira for a light reaction and levar a sério for a serious one; neither phrase determines how another person should feel.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “I take my studies seriously, but I try not to get anxious”?
Choose an answer to check yourself.
Keep practicing with the Real Life Portuguese app
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